Events

Here is a list of key events scheduled for the 2013 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia:

  • Monday evening, March 25 at Verizon Hall in the Kimmel Center -- KODO drummers perform intricate choreography, with an impressive display of physical prowess and subtle artistry
  • Monday April 1 through Friday April 4 -- Japanese Culture Week at the rotunda of Liberty Place in Center City. Visitors will experience free interactive lunchtime events featuring displays of origami paper ornaments, kimono dressing, calligraphy, and the art of flower arrangement called ikebana.
  • Saturday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – A Taste of Japan -- Guests can sample Japanese snacks and comfort food at the only authentic Japanese market in the Delaware Valley, Maido, 6 N. Narberth Avenue in Narberth, PA. Maido also celebrates Japanese material culture, with its vast selection of familiar “Hello Kitty” branded merchandise and other popular Japanese toys, gifts and videos.
  • April 6 (Painted Bride Art Center) and April 7 (Swarthmore College) -- Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance Ensemble from Japan. The thundering percussion and visually stunning costumes will await audiences during Tamagawa’s annual Philadelphia tour.    With more dates TBA, these performances are can’t miss.
  • April 14, is Sakura Sunday Celebration, the heart and soul of the Festival which takes place under the canopy of ornamental Japanese cherry trees at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center.
    • Beginning at 7 a.m. on April 14, athletes compete in the annual Cherry Blossom 5K, running or walking a route that starts at the Horticultural Center in Fairmount Park and wends its way beneath a canopy of cherry blossom trees.
    • At 10:30 a.m. April 14, Sakura Sunday launches a full-on celebration of spring in the Japanese tradition. As the centerpiece event of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival, Sakura Sunday will offer food of all kinds; live music and dance performances; martial-arts demonstrations; crafts and activities for all ages, such as calligraphy and origami; and much, much more. The Prettiest Pet in Pink Parade for dogs returns along with the 3rd annual Harajuku Fashion Show, featuring one-of-a-kind designs from local students inspired by Tokyo’s colorful Harajuku district. Fairmount Park’s beloved Shofuso Japanese House and Garden will also be open for tours throughout the day and for Kamishibai Story time.
  • Friday evening, April 26, The Blossom Bash -- Hyatt at the Bellevue. The Blossom Bash promises to be a colorful night out, featuring a Japanese fusion menu, live music, and an array of traditional and contemporary Japanese entertainments. The silent auction boasts Asian art and jewelry, Trans-Pacific airfare, and experiential packages mixing a Japanese flavor into Philly’s finest attractions.